Archive of Bfine107’s Xanga

Okay, so I have the day off.  I worked over labor day, which meansrnI’ve got a free day on my hands.  Some of the projects I’mrnbeginning:

• Start a “Crash” Project, providing resources for a discussion about the movie.
• Create a Educational Video Company (I’ll explain later)
• Write a lot
• Read a lot
• Finish making my Butternut Squash Soup
• Maybe Podcast.
• Maybe change my Xanga layout.

rnAbout the Xanga layout, someone want to give me some feedback onrnit.  I don’t want to change it to something distracting, but Irnlike changing things around.  Here are some layouts.

1. I can make this one a little bigger
2. This two looks like my other blog.
3. simple but cool three
4. focus on photos four this.
5. I’d make this five about twice as big.
6. six is pretty cool looking too.
7. this is just slick, 7.
8. This is about as simple as 8 can get.

rnGive me some feedback.  and I’ll change it.  If you want mernto do one for you let me know.  I like this kind of stuff, somernpeople like to watch tv or play video games.

Well, thanks to Blank__Slate I just hit 100 subscriptions (and she’s a really good editor).

rnIn other shout outs:
rnThanks to this wonderful lady, Mindy and I have a wonderful blanket to keep us cozy.
richie’s got me banging to some awesome Talib Kweli right now.
rnThanks to this guy, you don’t see the ad on the top of my site.
Him and Her gave me an activity to do on their website for them.
rnThese folks give me an inspiration in teaching: him, her, him and her.

rnI’ve got more shout outs, and a lot of writing I want to do thisrnmorning (probably to be posted on my other blog), BUT it’s time to gornmake my amazing wife some breakfast.

Okay, so I hacked it back.  (How long am I supposed to keeprnMindy’s hack up for?  Is it rude for me to post over the top ofrnit? I still love her).

rnSo out of curiousity:

• Who finds my added links to my other blog stuff above annoying?

• Whoever really uses or looks at the toolbar thing on the left?

• If I removed my left module thing, what links should I add somewhere that are still important to have?

I AM SO COOL!  Oh my goodness….can you believe just how good looking I really am?!? 

rnOh, and I am such a wonderful husband! Give me e-props for being so great to my wife!!!!

hacked entry courtesy of Mindy Fine (his wife)  Oh,rnand please still comment on his other posts too…I don’t want thisrnlittle entry to take away from his wonderful ideas and the otherrncomments that you brilliant people are giving my wonderfulrnhusband!  okay?  thanks.

Excellent feedback on the books.  I put all the ones I could onrnhold at the library.  Now which ever one comes first is the onernI’ll start with and I’ll tell you why when I get it.

rnSince the book thing went so well I’d appreciate some feedback on somernsongs.  Keane and I got a bunch of free itunes going to the GAPrnand trying on pants in NY (I’m actually not trying on the pants in thisrnpicture, just holding them up).  But I got 12 free itunes thisrnway.  I really want some good music, and I’m a lyric fiend so keeprnthat in mind here are some criteria:

• I really like almost all kinds of music, so you probably won’t gornwrong with that.  Though, I’m not too often in the mood for reallyrnslow R&B or other really slow stuff.
• I really want songs with lyrics that are socially conscience;rnlyrics that make you think or challenge your way of thinking; lyricsrnthat are about a particular issue.
• Popular or obscure, it doesn’t really bother me too much, andrnlanguage doesn’t bother me too much either, unless it’s really over therntop.

rnI look forward to hearing your input.

I’m looking for book suggestions.  Here’s the criteria:

• Fiction (historical fiction is fine too)
• around 100 pages (okay, it can be more then that, but nothing too thick)
• Easy Read (none of those five pages to describe a rocking chair type things)
• Impacting (something that challenges your thinking)

rnSo, what do you got for me?

So, I was really excited the other day because I had 99 subscribers tornmy Xanga.  I was gonna wait for the 100th and write an emailrncongratulating them (cheesy I know). 
rnBut then I realized probably half these folks don’t really ever read myrnxanga, so maybe I should try to clean out the subscribers who don’trnever read it.

rnAnyways, here is your chance.  If you read my xanga post a commentrnbelow.  If you don’t read my Xanga, well, you probably won’t readrnthis.

I just watched the movie Crash.  We are having a conversationrnabout it tonight with folks from Mosaic.  I’ve just startedrnlooking for facts related to the movie, and I’m having a hard timerncoming up with stuff.  I guess I’ll just start looking for stuffrnabout some of the different racial interactions that are in thernmovie. 
rnIt would be great to compile a concise or summary list of facts relatedrnto some of the scenes that are in the movie.  Anyone with me onrnthat?

rnHere’s what I’m going to do.  Either comment on here, or email mernany facts or websites, or books or anything related to the movie, orrnjust a particular scene in the movie, and I’ll try and compile arnwebsite that will have all those collected together.

rnExamples: Sexual harrasment by LAPD, Racism in LAPD, facts on thernproblems with the healthcare system, truthes to racism (as described byrnLudacris), personal stories of middle and upper-class blacks, arab andrnasian racist remarks and statistics, etc.

rnWouldn’t it be neat to have almost like a study guide to show with thernfilm? A lot of people said they liked it, this would be a good way torntake it and move with it.

rnemail: ariahfine@gmail.com or just post below.

Currently Watching Crash (Widescreen Edition) By Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle see related

I’m assuming again by the lack of comments, that people where afraid of saying:
“That little intro for your Sudan article sucked.” 

rnThat’s probably what I’m gonna do though.
rnI’m adding the Facts and a get Involved section.

UPDATED: 9/30/05
rnOkay, this is very open to suggestions, but here is my free flow of thought introduction for an article about Darfur:

Untitled.

Even now I feel vomit welling up in my throat.  For weeks I debated how to start this piece.  I tried to think of a hook that would encourage you to click on the link. An appeal convincing enough for you to spend the five minutes reading what is written below.  I tried and tried, and I realized the task was to great, and the outcome, if history is any indication, will be pitiful.  And that is why my stomach churns and I feel sick.

Some people are still unaware about what is happening in Darfur.  Today, as you read this, someones mother is going to be hacked to death with a machete.  I don't say that to evoke emotion, I say that because it is the truth; it is a reality; it is happening today.

I have no convincing argument, only a prayer that your heart will be compelled to care. 

THE FACTS.If you've seen Hotel Rwanda, you've caught a visual glimpse of the type of organized genocide that has been occuring in Darfur.  The United Nations estimates that nearly 400,000 people have been killed, and 500 more are killed every day.  Nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced and that number grows creating problems of hunger, clean water, and lack of shelter.

Another fact, that we need to face, is that those carrying out these acts are children of God also.  They are in need of His saving grace as much as their victims.

WHAT YOU CAN DO.There are so many opportunities to get involved in speaking out that there is no excuse not to.  You can start by commiting to fast on October 6th, to raise awareness and declare solidarity with those in Darfur.  You can organize a teach-in at your school to help your peers learn more about what is happening.  You can begin a letter writing campaign at your church to let your senator or congressman know that you care about what is happening.  You can raise awareness and funds by purchasing or selling bracelets, stickers, and more.  You can help make or sell dolls from Guatemala, tangible symbols of those whose lives are being lost the longer we are silent.  You can email or post links on your blog to videos and sound clips giving a visual picture of what is happening.

This article is extremely short for a reason.  Take the rest of the time now that you might have spent reading here and click on some of the links below and COMMIT to doing something TODAY.  

*I’m really open to suggestions and honest opinions (like, “that just sucked”).  I’m just having a hard time writing.